THE COUNTRY GIRL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1928, Page 1

THE COUNTRY GIRL

Educational authorities in Auckland would seem to prefer girls from the country to those lrom the town. They say that while the country girls are not. so showy as their town sisters they have more ability and more personality. The last is very difficult to gauge. The inspectors give marks for it. but we have no clue as to how thebe marks are awarded. Aet it is ot great importance in any teacher. Many schools have appointed teachers on the strength of their academic and scholastic performances only. It has often happened that such appointment's have not been

entirely successful because the elusive quality of personality has been lacking. .Matthew Arnold, when lie was inspector of schools in England, attached

great importance to personality in a teacher. Gn one occasion a headmaster complained to him that one of his teachers was inefficient. He said that she was lacking in method and without any marked ability. The only thing in Imr favour was that the children seemed to like her. Matthew Arnold watched her teaching for some

little time, ami then gave her.a better report than iie had done to any o! tinothers. The indignant headmaster wanted to know why he had spoken so well of this teacher, hut the inspector merely said. “ Because she is such a nice girl.” It may seem strange to find country girls singled out as showing more ability than town girls. This is probably because they take their studies and their profession more seriously. They have little to distract them. The town girl, on the contrary, lias a. number of amusements and occupations which limit the time she can devote to study. But there is probably an innate ability in the country girl due to her having to use her powers of observation and initiative. ■ People in the towns are acquiring the habit, of having things done for them or watching other people do things. lit the country people have to do tilings lor themselves. This gives ihe other quality of personality. The word cannot he defined with accuracy. AYe sometimes find writers linking personality with charm. It is possible to have either without the other, hut where the two co-exist they make an invaluable asset in any teacher. It is obvious tluu the inspectors, in giving more marks tor personality to probationers from the country than to those from the town have not been influenced by the external wrappings. In the matter of personal adornment the town girl admittedly excels her country sister, hut in the more sterling qualities that go to make for success in the teaching profes-

sion we are told the country girl is superior. A former master ot Trinity said of one of liis colleagues, “ The time he can spare from the neglect of his duties as tutor he devotes to the overelahi.ration of his toilet.” Possibly this is true of others. —W.M., in the Auckland ‘‘Star.”